Machine for forming tubes



June 8, 19548. L. H. MESSINGER MACHINE FOR FORMING TUBES 1O Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Aug. 24, 1945 PAPER FEED INVENTORI LESTER H.MessmeER f AGENTJune 8, 194& L. H. MESSINGER 2,442,856

MACHINE FOR FORMING TUBES Filed Aug. 24, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORLESTE R HMESSINGER AGENT L. H. MESSINGER MACHINE FOR FORMING TUBES June8, 1948.

10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 24, 1945 INVENTOR LESTER H.MESSINGER ymm'rJune 8, 1948. L. H. MESSiNGER' MACHINE FOR FORMING TUBES Filed Aug. 24,1945 lllllllllllllll II Lmmlll l0 Sheets-Sheet 4' June 8, 1948. L. H.MESSINGER 2,442,856

7 MACHINE FOR FORMING TUBES v Filed Aug. 24, 1945 Y 10 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR "1 J 5 LESTER H.MESSINGER AGENT June 8, 1948. L. H. MESSINGERMACHI N E FOR FORMING TUBES l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 24, 1945 l l II I I f l I ll INVENTQR LESTER H.MEss INGER June 1948. L. H. MESSINGERMACHINE FOR FORMING TUBES l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Aug. 24, 1945 INVENTORLESTERHMESSINGEB j AGENT L. H. MESSINGER MACHINE FOR FORMING TUBES June3, 1948.

10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Aug. 24, 1945 June 8, 1948. L. H. MESSENGERMACHINE FOR FORMING TUBES 1.0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Aug. 24, 1945 1m m Wm.HL

INVENTOR I I l LESTERHMESSINGER AGENT June 8, 1948. H. MESSINGER MACHINEFOR FORMING TUBES Filed Aug. 24, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 AGENT Patented.iune 8, 1948 MACHINE FOR FORMING TUBES Lester H. Messinger, Trumbull,Conn., assignor to Remington Arms Company, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn, acorporation of Delaware Application August 24, 1945, Serial No. 612,481

12 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a machine for manufacturing Woundarticles, and especially to an improved machine for forming tubes bywinding a sheet or strip of any suitable thin material, such for exampleas paper, for the manufacture of paper shot shells.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of this characterwhich is eflicient, capable of producing wound paper tubes at a rapidrate and one which is economical to build and operate.

The invention consists in certain features of novelty in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully setforth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved tube winding machine of thisinvention including the tube receiving baskets at one end of themachine, and schematically, the feed means for delivering sheets ofpaper to the winding mandrels of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the winding machine partly broken away toshow the winding mandrels and brush.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section of the left end of themachine.

Fig. 3A is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the right end of themachine.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the left end of the machine showing part ofthe paper feed device.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the right end of the machine showing thedevice for distributing the wound tubes into separate baskets.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation partly in section of a star wheel and themandrel supporting crank arms associated therewith taken in thedirection of the arrows 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged end elevation of the cam and cam follower foractuating the crank arms of the mandrels and taken in the direction ofthe arrows '!i of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an end elevation partly in section showing the drive means forthe several mandrels and is taken in the direction of the arrows 8--8 ofFig. 3.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation partly in section of the mandrels brush andwiper blades taken in the direction of arrows 5-9 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation partly in section of one set of wiperblades including an element connecting axially the aligned crank rodsand showing the tube discharge means. Fig. 10 is taken in the directionof arrows Ill-40 of Fig. 9.

2 Fig, 11 is an enlarged end view of one of the wiper blades, crank rodconnecting element, and stripper associated therewith, as shown in Fig.9.

General description The paper tube winding machine of this invention isof the horizontal bed type having a plurality of rotatable duplexmandrels, a plurality of wiper blades and a single rotatable brush allarranged in cooperatively associated relationship so as to form acontinuously rotating cylindrical cage. The terms duplex mandrel andmandrel, as hereinafter used, shall be understood to mean an element onwhich the paper tube is wound and to comprise two separable mandrelparts supported in axial alignment and adapted to be movedlongitudinally into and from end engaging relationship. As the cagerotates, adjacent ends of the mandrel parts are adapted to be joined toform a duplex mandrel, whereupon a paper strip is fed into engagementwith the periphery thereof. Suitable means are provided to then move therotating duplex mandrels radially against the periphery of the rotatingbrush to press the paper sheet against the mandrel thereby initiatingthe winding of the tube. A wiper blade is then moved into engagementwith the partially formed tube to complete the winding operation, themandrel being, in the meantime,

withdrawn from engagement with the brush. At the end of the windingoperation, the duplex mandrels are separated longitudinally, therebystripping off the wound tube which falls down onto supporting means inthe bottom of the machine in longitudinal alignment with a tubulardischarge passage in one end thereof. Thereafter a suitable pusherengages the wound tube and moves it through the tubular dischargepassage out into a distributing device. The tube forming operation isthus continuous and uninterrupted from the time the paper sheet is fedto a mandrel until the completely wound tube is discharged from themachine; moreover, a plurality of tubes are being wound simultaneouslyby the continuously rotating cage.

Frame structure Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine frame comprisesa substantially rectangular box structure indicated generally at 15 andformed of castings or forgings bolted or otherwise secured together toform a rigid structure, the length of which is, roughly, three times itswidth, its height being, roughly, one and one half times its width. Thebox frame [5 is supported in a substantially horizontal plane bysuitable legs l6 at opposite ends of the frame. The front of the machineis provided with hinged doors l'l, one door being adjacent each end ofthe machine to give access to the mandrel driving mechanisms which arelocated at opposite ends of the machine. Between the two ends of themachine are hinged covers l8 and [9 which are adapted to give access tothe paper tube winding mechanism, including the brush and the wiperblades hereinafter described. At the right end of the machine, as viewedin Fig. 1, are suitable discharge bins or baskets indicated generally at20 for receiving the wound tubes, suitable distributing means 22 beingprovided, as hereinafter described, to discharge the tu s into thebaskets 20.

The left and right end walls 26 and 21, respectively, of the frame,provide suitable supportin means for the bushings 28 of the main driveshaft 29 and for the hushed bosses 30 and 36 of a compound axle 32 whichis adapted to drive the mandrels and the brush f the tube winding cage,as hereinafter described. Intermediate the end walls 26 and 21, and inspaced parallel relationship therewith, are transverse partitions 33 and34, each of which is a rigid part of the frame structure and is adaptedto provide supporting means for an intermediate bushing 35 of the maindrive shaft 29. Each partition is provided centrally with an enlargedaperture 36 and 31, respectively, which constitutes a bearing for anelement of the cage, as described below.

The tube winding machine is adapted to be operated in conjunction with apaper sheet delivering and adhesive applying machine which isschematically shown at 23 of Fig. 1, the tube winding machine beingdriven in synchronism with the paper delivering machine by drive means,such as the chain 24 and sprockets 25 and 25', the latter being securedto the main drive shaft 29 of the tube winding machine, as shown in Fig.3A. It will be understood, however, that the drive shaft 29 may bedriven from an independent power source.

Drive mechanism The machine is provided at its opposite ends withduplicate drive mechanism for performing certain operations, and hence,for the sake of brevity, a description of only one of each duplicatedstructure will be given.

The main drive shaft 29 is rotatably supported by bushings 28substantially transversely centrally disposed in the lower part of theframe. Secured at opposite ends of the shaft 29 are drum cams 33 havinggrooves 38, each adapted to receive a cam follower 39 attached to thebottom of a carriage 46. Each carriage, as shown in Fig. 3, 3A, and 8,comprises a substantially rectangular block adapted to be slidablysupported in a horizontal plane by a pair of spaced parallel guide rods42, 420 and 43. The guide rod 43 of each carriage is secured at itsopposite ends in the end wall and in the partition at its respective endof the frame. The guide rod 42 of the carriage at the left end of themachine is reciprocably supported at its opposite ends in bushedapertures of its respective end wall 26, and partition 33, and isadapted to be locked to the carriage by suitable fastening means, suchas clamp 42'. The guide 420 for the carriage 40 at the right end of themachine comprises a tubular member which is fastened securely to thecarriage and is also reciprocably mounted at its opposite ends in hushedapertures of its respective through their respective partitions 33 and34 of the frame and are adapted to support brackets 49 which areadjustable longitudinally on the extended ends 43 Of the fixed rods 43.Each bracket has an arcuate relatively thin stiff apron 'member 59riveted or otherwise secured to the flanged portion 49 thereof. It isthe function of the aprons 56 to support the wound tubes when they arestripped off of the duplex mandrels, and hence, the aprons 59 aresupported by the brackets 49 for adjustment longitudinally on theextensions 43' of the fixed guide rods 43 in order to adapt the machinefor winding tubes of various lengths.

It will be clear that when the main drive shaft 29 rotates, the drumcams 38 will reciprocate the carriages 40, the latter being guided bythe fixed guide rods 43 and the reciprocable guide rod 42 and tube 420.The latter are reciprocated in synchronism with the movement of thecarriages for effecting the discharge of the wound tubes, as describedbelow. Each carriage is also shown provided with an upstandingprojection 41 having at one end a transverse groove 48 which is adaptedto engage and actuate one of the separable parts of a. duplex mandrelfor performing the stripping operation as hereinafter described.

Tube winding cage The term cage, as used herein, shall be understood todesignate a unitary cylindrical structure which comprises the tubewinding mandrels, the brush, the wiper blades, the tube strippers andthe associated drive mechanism for actuating the mandrels and wiperblades, the cage being rotatable as a unit continuously in the frameabout the horizontal compound axle 32.

The main drive shaft 29 drives the compound axle 32 of the cage throughthe sprocket 52, chain 53, idler 54, and sprocket 55, the latter,together with a gear 56, being keyed to the reduced end of an internalshaft 51 of the compound axle 32. As shown in Fig. 4, the gear 56 ispart of a speed reduction gear train including the back gears (notshown) which are mounted on a stud shaft 59; and a gear 60 which iskeyed to the end of a sleeve 62 of the compound axle, the sleeve 62being rotatably supported on the left end of the internal shaft 51 bysuitable bearings 63, as shown in Fig. 3. A similar sleeve 62 issupported by bearings 63' on the right end of the shaft 51, as shown inFig. 3A. The outer end of each sleeve 62 and 62 is rotatably mounted ina bushing 64 and 64, respectively, which in turn is carried in a flangedbushing 65, 65, respectively, fixedly secured in the bosses 36 and 36formed on the inside of the end walls 26 and 21 of the frame. The innerend of each sleeve 62 and 62 is inserted into and keyed, as shown, tothe hub portion 66 and 66 of relatively heavy discs or turrets 61 and61' which are supported in the vertical planes of the respectivepartitions 33 and 34, the peripheries of the turret discs making a nicerotating fit in the apertures 36 and 31 of the fixed partitions 33 and34, respectively. It will be clear that the internal shaft 51 of thecompound axle 32 will be rotated relatively rapidly, whereas theexterior sleeves 92 and 92' will rotate more slowly.

The shaft 57 carries a cylindrical brush 68 which is located between therotatable turrets 61 and 91', suitable spacer collars 69 being securedon the shaft 51 between the respective ends of the brush and theadjacent faces of the respective turrets.

Fixedly secured to the flanged bushing 65 in the left end of themachine, see Fig. 3, by a set screw, is a cam I9 which, as shown indetail in Figs. 6 and 7, has a cam groove I2 in its inner face toreceive cam followers or rollers '53 which are carried on the ends ofsuitable crank arms Id. The opposite end of each crank arm is providedwith a hub IS in which is keyed one end of a crank rod I9. Each crankarm 19 also embodies a nose portion I? for the purpose hereinafterdescribed.

The crank arms M, of which there are six in the embodiment shown, aresupported by means of their respective crank rods I9 adjacent the outerface "I99 of a rotatable star wheel I9, the hub 89 of which is keyed tothe sleeve 92. Each crank rod I9 extends through and is rotatablysupported in a bushed aperture 82 in one of the points of the star wheelI9. The scallops between the points of the star wheel provide clearancefor the longitudinal movement of the spindles 95 to be presentlydescribed. A mandrel actuating lever arm 83 is keyed at one end to eachcrank rod 16 adjacent the inner face FBI of the star wheel I9, Theopposite end of each lever arm 93 is provided with a bushing 84 torotatably support the outer end of a spindle 85 which is adapted tosupport one part 95 of a duplex mandrel 959, hereinafter termed amandrel part and to slide longitudinally in its bushing 84. The outer orrear end of each spindle 95 is provided with a tapped hole 86 to receivean adjustable stud 9'! having a lock nut thereon and a smooth roundedhead 89. During the operation of the machine and, in particular, thatpoint in the cycle of operations when the mandrel parts 95 and mandrelsupporting spindles are moving into normal operating position, therotation of the star wheel I9, relative to the fixed cam 79, will causethe nose portion 71 of each crank arm 19 to cammingly engage the roundedhead 88 of its respective spindle so as to positively move the spindleinwardly or to the right, as shown in Fig. 3, thereby forcing theaxially aligned mandrel parts 95 of a duplex mandrel 959 intointerlocking engagement. The latter effect is accomplished by providingone mandrel part with a teat 95I at its end; and the correspondingmandrel part with an axial aperture or socket 952 at its end to receivethe teat of its corresponding mandrel part.

The crank rods I9 at the right and left ends of the machine extendinwardly, as shown in Figs. 3 and 10, and pass through suitable bushedapertures 99 which are circumferentially spaced about the perimeters ofthe turrets 9i and El. The ends of these crank rods project slightlybeyond the oppositely disposed faces of the turrets and are flattened,as at 99, to provide means for connecting the axially aligned crank rodsat oposite ends of the machine with intermediate connecting elements ofthe wiper blades so as to form a unitary cage.

Each mandrel part supporting spindle 85 is provided with a pulley 92formed integrally at the inner end of the spindle; and an axiallytapered aperture 93 to receive the tapered shank portion 94 of themandrel part 95, A cotter pin 96, or other fastening means, may beprovided to hold. the shank of the mandrel part in the aperture 93. Toremove the part from its spindle it is only necessary to withdraw thecotter pin 99 and insert a drift pin in a diametrical aperture 9'! ofthe spindle to start the shank 94 from the tapered aperture 93.

The end of each mandrel part adjacent its. shank portion 94 is rotatablysupported in the bushed and flanged end 98 of a lever arm 99, each ofwhich corresponds to one of the lever arms 83 of the star wheel 79. Theopposite end of each lever arm 99 is carried by and keyed to one of thecrank rods I9 at the adjacent face of its respective turret. Thediameter of each flange 98 is such that the flange will at all timesspan its respective aperture I99 in the turret, there being sixapertures I99 alternately spaced between the circumferentially spacedbushed apertures 89 of each turret. As shown, each mandrel part extendsthrough one of the apertures I99 of one of the turrets and hassufficient. clearance therein for transverse movement.

The means for rotating the mandrel parts at: the left end of the machinecomprises a plurality of pulleys I92, I99, and I99, mounted on the outerface 339 of the partition 33, see Figs. 3 and 8, the pulleys I92 beingsupported on stud shafts: fixed to the partition 33, the pulley I93being carried on one arm of a pivoted bell crank lever I95, which isspring biased by the spring I99 to take up slack in an endless V-beltI91. The pulley I94 is secured by a set screw to a shaft I98 which isrotatably supported at its opposite ends in bushings in the respectivepartitions 39 and 34 of the frame and which carries a sprocket I98connected by a chain I99 to a sprocket H9. The latter is keyed to asecond stud shaft II I which is mounted on a bracket of the frame andprovided with a spur gear I I2 which meshes with a gear II3 keyed to themain drive shaft 29". The endless V-belt I9? is disposed around thedrive pulleys I92, I93 and I 94, as shown in Fig. 8, and over the outerrims of the spindle pulleys 92. As shown, the belt I91 rotatably engagesfive of the pulleys 92 simultaneously. It will be' seen that when apulley has been carried to its lowermost position by the rotating cage,it will be out of engagement with the belt and, hence, will not berotated. In this manner, each pulley is successively disengaged from thebelt I91 and during this interim, its rim is adapted to engage in thetransverse groove 98 of its respective carriage 49. The motion of thelatter is synchronized' with the rotation of the cage so as to pick upeach. pulley as it approaches the bottom of the tube winding cycle andcarry the pulley, its spindle 85. and respective mandrel part 95 to theleft, as shown in Fig. 3, the spindle and mandrel part sliding throughtheir respective bushed apertures of the arms 89 and 99. Thislongitudinal movement of each mandrel part is adapted to strip a woundtube off of a duplex mandrel in the manner hereinafter described.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that each mandrel parthas a compound motion during its cycle of operation. Thus, as the cagerotates, the star wheel 79 and turret 97 rotate in synchronism, beingconnected by the common sleeve 92 and the several circumferentiallyspaced crank rods 19. The rotation of the star wheel moves the camfollowers l3 around the cam groove I2 of the fixed cam I9, whereupon thecrank.

arms I! of the crank rods I6 are oscillated, thereby imparting a similaroscillating'motion to the lever arms 83 which carry the rotatablespindles 85. Moreover, the lever arms 99 which are keyed to the crankarms 16 adjacent the turret 61 impart a similar oscillating motion tothe mandrel parts supported in the spindles. each spindle and itsrespective mandrel part moves outwardly and inwardly radiallysimultaneously with respect to the xis of the cage, the enlargedapertures I60 of the turret 61 providing clearance for this transversemovementof Consequently the mandrel parts. Further, each mandrel part Imeans, has related to the mechanism at the left end of the machine, asshown in Fig. 3. Fig. 3A shows similar mechanism at the right end of themachine. It will be noted, however, that a fixed cam 18 is not shown foractuating the crank arms It, a suitable collet I09 being shown in itsplace. intermediate connecting means between the crank rods, a secondcam 10 is not necessary for imparting oscillating motion to the mandrelparts at the right end of the machine. It will be understood, however,that the collet I may be readily replaced by a fixed cam "I0, ifpreferred. Further, the pulleys and belt for rotating the mandrel partsat the right end of the machine are driven from the shaft I68 whichextends through to the right end of the machine, the pulley I94being'keyed to the end thereof.

In the absence of a fixed cam at the right end of the machine, the crankrods 76 at this end are connected to the cam actuated crank rods at theleft end of the machine by interconnecting members which compriseelements of the tube wiper blades.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 10 shows one of the six wiper blades,and an element associated therewith, for connecting one pair of axiallyaligned crank rods 15. This is but one connecting element of six suchelements for connecting respective pairs of axially aligned crank rods.As

described above, the projecting ends of the crank rods are provided withflattened surfaces 39, which adapt each end of a crank rod to make asnug fit in a substantially rectangular lot H4 in opposite endsrespectively of one of the connecting elements or bars H5 of a wiperblade assembly, each flattened end of a crank rod being secured in itsslot by a pin I I6. As a consequence of this construction the rotationof the crank rods at the left end of the machine is transmitted to thecrank rods at the right end of the machine and the supporting andoperating mechanism for the mandrel parts at opposite ends of themachine are thus joined together and rotate as a unit or cage about theaxle 51.

Each end portion or knuckle I I5 of a connecting bar I I5, see Fig. 11,is substantially rectangular in cross-section, whereas the portionbetween the ends H5 and constituting the major length of the bar, ishalf round in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 9. This half roundconstruction is to enable the bar H5 to clear the bristles of thecylindrical brush 68 as showninFig. 10.

Each knuckle H5 embodies an arm II! which It has been found that by theuse of an extends transversely to the bar H5 and is pf6= vided with abushed aperture H8 at its free end. An upstanding substantially verticalweb H9 is formedintegral with each arm H1 and is provided with atransverse aperture I20 to receive a pivot pin of a stripper member,hereinafter described. An perture I22 rojects through the knuckle H5adjacent the web H9 and in a plane substantially parallel to thevertical plane of the web. This aperture is adapted to support a postI23 which is secured in the aperture I22 by a pin I24. The post is bentover at substantially right angles to its upperend to provide a supportfor one end of a coil spring I25.

Pivotally supported between each arm II! on pins I26 in the bushedapertures H8 are the end members IZ'I of a wiper blade indicatedgenerally at I28. The wiper blade comprises an elongated barsubstantially wedge-shaped in crosssection and provided with a reliefrecess along its thin edge in which is secured a rubber wiper I28. Inthe present embodiment each end member I2'I is formed integral with anend of the wiper blade I28 and embodies an axially projecting pin I29and a transversely extending rocker arm I 30, the latter having a bushedaperture to support a rotatable cam follower I32, as shown in Fig. 10.The latter is adapted to be held in engagement with a horseshoe shapedcam I33 by the coil spring I25 which is connected to the post I23 and tothe pin I29 of the pivoted Wiper blade I28. The cam I33 is shown fixedlysecured to the transverse partition 33 at the left end of the machine.It has been found that a single cam will suiiice to provide the propermovement to the wiper blades during the rotation of the cage but it willbe evident that the machine is readily adapted to include a second fixedcam on the transverse partition 34.

Pivotally supported on the web H9 of the arm II I by a in I35 is astripper element I36 comprising a substantially keystone shaped memberhaving a transversely disposed sleeve at its larger end. The working endof the sleeve is tapered as at I36. The inside diameter of the sleeve isslightly less than the outside diameter of a wound tube but is ofsufficient diameter to enable the mandrel parts of the cage to passfreely therethrough. Throughout the operations of winding and strippinga wound tube from the mandrel parts, the latter remain within thepivotally mounted strippers I36 although in the actual strippingoperation the ends of the mandrel parts are retracted by thereciprocating carriages 40 below the working ends I36 of the sleeves, asshown in Figs. 3, 3A and 10. I

Referring to Fig. 9, the paper is adapted to be fed to a rotating duplexmandrel from the back of the machine through suitable guide plates I31.At the instant the paper engages the rotating duplex mandrel, themandrel is in a position relative to the periphery of the brush suchthat the bristles of the brush press the paper against the periphery ofthe mandrel to initiate the paper tube winding operation. The respectivewiper blade H5 is, at this time, held out of engagement with the paperby the fixed cam and cam follower mechanism described above. However, assoon as the ,continuously rotating cage has carried the camrollower I32out of contact with the fixed cam 3,.the spring I25 is enabled to drawthe wiprblade I29 upwardly against the wound tube. The blade thus servesboth to remove excesspalw" from the tube and to iron the severalconvoluflons of the wound paper. This action or thewipe! bladescontinues for substantially a quarter of one revolution or cycle of thecage, whereupon the wiper blade cam follower I32 again engages the fixedcam I33 to hold the wiper blade out of contact with the wound tube.

Tube stripping and discharging mechanism A completely wound tube isstripped from a duplex mandrel by withdrawing each mandrel part axiallyout of an end of the wound tube, the latter being held againstlongitudinal movement with respect thereto by engagement with the endsI35 of the stripper elements I34, as clearly shown in Fi 10.

The stripped tube drops from the mandrel down onto the aforementionedarcuate aprons B which are adapted to engage and support the oppositeends of the tube. As shown in Fig. 9, a tube which is supported on theaprons 5!) lies in the path transversed by the wiper blade bar I28during the rotation of the cage and, hence, the bar I28 engages andmoves the stripped tube up the inclined aprons 5b and over therearwardly extending free ends 58' thereof. The tubes then fall downonto a pair of spaced parallel upwardly projecting substantially fiatguide fingers I38 which are riveted or otherwise fastened at their lowerends to elements of the tube discharging means.

lhe tube discharging element at the left end of the machine embodies aU-shaped trough I39 having an upturned lip portion at its outer end towhich the finger I38 is fastened; and an apertured flange I39 by whichthe trough is fastened securely and substantially, perpendicular to thead jacent wall 33! of the partition 33. The aperture of the flange andthe longitudinal axis of the trough I39 are adapted to be in axialalignment with the reciprocable guide rod 42 of the carriage so at theleft end of the machine. The inner end of this guide rod 52 is shownprovided with a tapered nose I40 having a flange Mil. The tapered noseis adapted to enter into the adjacent open end of a stripped tube lyingin the U-shaped trough I39, as the rod moves forwardly or to the right,see Fig. 10, until the flange I49 of the rod 42 positively engages anend of the tube whereupon the tube will be pushed to the right, as seenin Fig. 10.

The tube discharge element at the right end of the machine also embodiesa U-shaped trough I42 having an upturned lip portion at its outer end towhich a finger I38 is fastened; and an apertured flange I42. The latteris adapted to be fastened securely to the flange 5 430i a coupling I54which is threadedly secured on the adjacent end of the reciprocablecarriage guide tube 429 at the right end of the machine, the aperture ofthe flange I42 and the longitudinal axis of the trough I42 being inaxial alignment with the reciprocable tube 420. The internal diameter ofthe tube 425 is slightly greater than the outside diameter of a woundpaper tube so that a paper tube may be readily moved therethrough, ashereinafter described. The coupling Hid is shown provided with aninternal annular groove M5 in which is mounted a resilient washer M5.

Thus, as a wound tube is stripped from its mandrel parts by retractionof the carriages 4B and drops over the free ends of the aprons 50, theopposite ends of the tube will be supported in the troughs I39 and I42,respectively. Then, as the carriages 40 move inwardly simultaneously,both the guide rod 42 and guide tube 42!! move toward each other,whereupon the flanged nose I 40 of the rod 42 telescopes the wound tubeinto the approaching tube 423. At the end of the stroke of eachcarriage, the wound tube will have been telescoped substantially itsentire length into the tubular guide 420 and thereafter as the carriages40 again recede or move apart, the guide rod 52 will be withdrawn fromengagement with the end of the tube and the guide tube 428 will carrythe telescoped tube to the right out of the path of the tube beingstripped from the next succeeding duplex mandrel. The resilient washerI45 of the coupling M5 will provide sufiicient friction on the surfaceof the telescoped tube to hold the latter in the guide tube 429. Whenthe carriages again move inwardly the next succeeding stripped tube willbe pushed into engagement with the end of the telesccped tube and hencepush it out of the extreme right end of the guide tube 20.

At the right end of the machine, see Fig. 5, is a tube distributor fordelivering the discharged tubes consecutively and in parallelrelationship to suitable baskets 29. The distributor is a substantiallyrectangular open frame member, indicated generally at 22, see Fig. 2,which is pivotally mounted on its transverse axis on a substantiallyhorizontal shaft I48 fixed to the end wall 2? of the machine. The framecomprises transversely extending angle bars i 39 which constitutebaiiies to guide the free fall of the tubes. The angle bars also serveas brackets to support suitable plates over which the tubes may roll inpassing from one set of baffles to another. It will be noted that thebafiies and tube supporting plates in one half of the frame areoppositely disposed to those in the other half of the frame. At each endof the frame 22 is a pivoted ladder I52 and I52, respectively,comprising spaced parallel sid members connected by transverselyarranged steps I 54, each comprising a trough shaped member andoppositely inclined to the preceding and next succeeding step. Thus, as

the tubes roll off of the supporting blades I59 of the tilted frame,they transverse the steps of the ladder until they drop from the laststep into a basket.

The frame 22 is pivotally mounted so that it may be tilted to delivertubes, first, to the ladder 552 at the left of the central dischargetube 42%, see Fig. 5, until its respective basket is full, and then tothe ladder I52 and its respective basket at the right of the centraldischarge tube without interruption in the continuous operation of thetube winding and delivering operations, a full basket being removed andreplaced by an empty one while the second basket is being filled.

Operation The operation of the machine may be briefly reviewed asfollows: When the paper feeding machine is started, the sprocket andchain connection between the paper feeding machine 23 and the tubewinding machine will drive the latter in synchronism with the former.The tube winding cage begins to rotate slowly, continuously carrying themandrels 950 and wiper blades I28 through complete revolutions or tubewinding cycles in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed from the rightend of the machine. Simultaneously, the mandrels 950 and brush 68 arerotated at relatively high speeds, the brush rotating counterclockwiseand the mandrels clockwise. The carriages 4B are reciprocatedlongitudinally in synchronism with the rotating cage. Moreover, as thecage rotates, the mandrels 956 are being oscillated radially withrespect to the cylindrical brush 68' by the crank arms 14, fixed cam ii!and lever arms 33-99, described above. while the wiper blades I28 arebeing oscillated into and from engagement with the mandrels by theirrespective fixed cams I33, rocker arm I30 and cam followers I32. Thus,as a strip of pasted paper is being fed through the. guides I31 intojuxtaposition to one of the duplex mandrels 950, the latter will moveradially into engagement with the brush 68 so that the edge of the paperstrip will be nipped between the brush 6B and mandrel 950 and pressed bythe brush against the periphery of the mandrel whereupon the latterpicks up the paper to initiate the winding operation. Thereafter thewiper blade I28 associated with this particular duplex mandrel willmoveinto engagement with the wound tube to remove excess paste therefromand to iron down the convolutions. The tube T is held by the duplexmandrels against the rotating brush only during a relatively shortperiod of the cycle, whereas the wiper blades I28 remain in contact withthe tube for substantially a quarter of the revolution ofthe cage. Atthe end of this time, which corresponds to the nine oclock position ofthe mandrel, the-wiper blade is withdrawn, as

clearly shown in Fig. 9. In the interim, sheets of paper have been fedand wound onto the next two succeeding duplex mandrels and a third sheetof paper is about to be fed onto the third succeeding mandrel of thecontinuously rotating cage. When a wound tube approaches the bottom ofits cycle (the six oclock position) the pulleys 92 of the spindles 85 ofthe respective mandrel parts 95 are carried outof engagement with thebelt drive means ID! and, hence, cease to be rotated and thereafter arecarried into the transverse grooves 48 of the respective reciprocatingcarriage which move the spindles 85. longitudinally to the left (Fig.3), and to the right (Fig. 3A), respectively, thus drawing therespective mandrel parts 95 apart and stripping the wound tube Ttherefrom. The wound tube then drops down and is supported at itsopposite ends on the arcuate fixed aprons 50. As the cage continues torotate, the tube is picked up by the adjacent portion of its respectivewiper blade I28 andcarried up over the ends of the aprons 50 from whichit drops down freely into the two troughs I39 and I42. The carriages 40have now reversed their direction oftravel and move toward each other,whereby the reciprocable guide rod 42 of the carriage at the left end ofthe machine engages and telescopes the wound tube T into the approachingguide tube 420 of the opposite carriage. As the carriages 40 againrecede, the telescoped tube T is carried out of the path of the nextsucceeding tube which is being simultaneously stripped from itsrespective mandrel parts 95. The telescoped tube T is ejected from theguide tube 420 by the next succeeding tube as hereinabove described. Asthe separated mandrel parts approach the threeoclock position in theircycle of rotation. the teat 95I of one mandrel part is moved into thesocket 952 of the adjacent mandrel, this interlocking of the adjacentends of the mandrel parts being effected by engagement of the noseportion 11 of the respective crank arms M with the rounded heads 88 ofthe respective spindles 85.

What is claimed is:

1. A tube winding machine comprising a con tinuously rotating cage andmeans to rotate said cage in a tube windingcycle, said cage embodying a.compound axle rotatably mounted in a substantially horizontal plane andcomprising rotatable sleeves and a shaft rotatable within said sleeves,spaced parallel star wheels secured to said sleeves at opposite ends ofsaid axle, spaced Parallel turrets secured to said sleeves intermediatesaid star wheels, a cylindrical brush secured to said shaft between saidturrets, a plurality of horizontally disposed spaced parallel crank rodsconnecting said star wheels and turrets, a plurality of duplex mandrelssupported by said crank rods between said turrets and in spacedrelationship around said brush, means for rotating each duplex mandrelon its longitudinal axis during the rotation of said cage, means tooscillate each mandrel to and from the brush during the rotation of saidcage, a plurality of wiper blades supported by said crank rods betweensaid turrets and in spaced parallel relationship to said mandrels, meansto oscillate each wiper blade toward and away from its respectivemandrel; carriages reciprocably mounted in juxtaposition to said cage,each carriage having an element arranged to engage a mandrel part duringthe rotation of said cage; and means for reciprocating said carriagessimultaneously away from and toward each other to separate the mandrelparts of a duplex mandrel so as to strip a'formed tube therefrom and toeject the stripped tube from said machine respectively.

2. Apparatus for the winding of tubes from sheet material comprising abrush mounted for revolution on a fixed axis, a cage surrounding saidrevolving brush, means for continuously rotating said cage at anangularspeed different from the angular speed of said brush, a plurality ofwinding mandrels and mandrel supports mounted in said cage, and mean forshifting said mandrels radially toward and away from said brush as saidcage is rotated.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the mandrel shifting meanscomprises a fixed cam, an arbor carrying a crank provided with a camfollower, a pair of arms secured to said arbor, and a mandrel supportassociated with said arms.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said mandrel support isslidable in the direction of its length in bearings in said arms, and isprovided with a pulley adapted in certain longitudinal positions of saidmandrel support and rotational positions of said cage to be engaged anddriven by a driving belt.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which an end portion of saidmandrel support is engaged by a part of said arbor crank to temporarilylock the mandrel support at one extreme of its longitudinal movement.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the mandrel support is movedto its extreme position by its engagement with a tail on said crank.

'7. Apparatus for the winding of tubes from sheet material comprising abrush mounted for revolution on a fixed axis; a cage surrounding .saidrevolving brush; means for continuously rotating said cage at an angularspeed different from the angular speed of said brush; a plurality ofwinding mandrels and mandrel supports mounted in said cage; means forshifting said mandrels radially toward and away from said brush as saidcage is rotated; said mandrel shifting means comprising a fixed cam, anarbor carrying a crank provided with a cam follower, and a pairof armssecured to said arbor; said mandrel supports. being associated with saidarms, slidable in hearings on said arms, and provided with pulleysadapted in certain longitudinal positions of said mandrel supports androtational positions of said cage to be engaged and driven by a drivingbelt; and means for reciprocating said mandrel supports comprising amember adapted for engagement with a peripheral portion of said pulleys,a cylindrical box cam, and a cam followervsupported for rectilinearreciprocatory movement.

8. Apparatus for the winding of tubes from sheet material comprising abrush mounted for revolution on a fixed axis; a cage surrounding saidrevolving brush; means for continuously rotating said cage at an angularspeed different from the angular speed of said brush; a plurality ofwinding mandrels and mandrel supports mounted in said cage; and meansfor shifting said mandrels radially toward and away from said brush assaid cage is rotated, said mandrel shifting means comprising a fixedcam, a pair of spaced and longitudinally aligned arbors in opposite endsof the apparatus associated with each of said mandrels, a connectingmember parallel to and adjacent said brush rigidly joining adjacent endsof the arbors of each pair, a crank carried by an arbor of each pair, acam follower carried by each crank and engaged by said cam, a pair ofarms projecting from each arbor, and mandrel supports associated withsaid arms.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which a wiper blade is pivotallyheld in arm integral with said connecting member, whereby said wiperblade is bodily shifted with the mandrels in said mandrel supportstoward and away from said brush.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the pivotal movement of thewiper blade on said connecting member is controlled by a fixed cam.

11. Apparatus for the Winding of tubes from sheet material comprising abrush revolving about a fixed axis, a cage surrounding and coaxial withsaid brush and mounting a plurality of counterpart mandrel halves, meansfor continuously revolving said cage, means for shifting said mandrelhalves radially with respect to said brush, means for intermittentlyrevolving said mandrel halves, means for reciprocating said mandrelhalves toward and from each other, and tube removing means associatedand reciprocating with said mandrel reciprocating means.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the tube removing meanscomprises a push rod associated with one mandrel reciprocating means andadapted to thrust a tube endwise, and a tu bular member associated withthe second mandrel reciprocating means adapted to receive the tubeadvanced by said push rod.

LESTER H. MESSINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 537,560 Bird Apr. 16, 18952,327,668 Rempel Aug. 24, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,213Great Britain 1866 5,136 Great Britain 1905

